Last Updated: Friday, March 7, 2008 11:55 AM CST
Important meetings mark the month of March
by Roger Sabota - Northwoods notebook
March has arrived and with its arrival we can look forward to dirty snow banks and huge temperature fluctuations. It is no secret that March is my second-least favorite month of the year right behind August. During the years when I was working, March was the month when I would get the urge to find a different job. Oh yes, this is the month when everyone drive dirty vehicles covered with salt spray.
The “Wisconsin Almanac” says that March is named after the Roman God of War. It goes on further to say that March is a transition month - part winter and part spring. This is the month when we begin to see waterfowl as they journey north. Heavy snows, rain and even the occasional thunderstorm can be anticipated. Expect a major ice storm at least once every four years during March. On March 3-5 in 1976 we had a storm that left a 4-inch-thick coating of ice that caused in excess of $50 million in damage. Spring officially arrives about March 21.
Last weekend we joined a crowd of musky anglers at the Musky Show in Green Bay. This show, which was held across the street from Lambeau Field, featured two different seminar stages. There were seminars on one stage beginning each hour on the hour and on the other stage the seminars were changing on the half hour.
Speakers included Jeff Wallace, Spence Petros, Rob Manthei, Jim Saric, Dennis Radloff, Steve Heiting and this writer. From my perspective, the best part of these shows is the opportunity to touch base with many friends who are addicted to the sport of musky fishing.
The game fish season ended along with the month of February. The general opening of fishing seasons, except for bass and muskies, will be the first Saturday of May. Musky season will open on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and bass season will open later in June.
Those who have ice-fishing shacks on the ice of lakes or flowages north of Highway 64 may have a tough task facing them. Those ice fishing shacks must be off the ice by midnight, March 15t. On some of our lakes ,ice shacks are frozen into the slush that formed above the ice with the heavy blanket of snow. Also, at the end of March the 2007-2008 fishing licenses will expire. New 2008-2009 Wisconsin hunting, fishing and trapping licenses will go on sale Monday, March 10. Licenses may be purchased over the Internet, at DNR offices during business hours, at automated license issuance system sales locations or by calling (877) WICENSE (945-4236).
The number of black bear kill tags for the Sept. 3 through Oct. 7 season has increased slightly since last year. Last year 4,405 kill tags were issued compared to 4,660 tags this year. The wait for a kill tag in our area is nearly ten years.
The Spring Wildlife and Fisheries Rules Hearings are scheduled for Monday evening, April 14. This meeting is frequently called the Conservation Congress meeting. These meetings will be called to order in every county of the state at 7 p.m. The Oneida County meeting will be held at James Williams Middle School.
Although the agenda for the spring hearings is packed with important questions about hunting, fishing and trapping in Wisconsin, the questions relating to bass fishing will most likely draw a most interest.
Presently bass fishing across the Northwoods is better than it has ever been. We have a catch-and-release season for bass from the first Saturday in May until mid-June. Under this regulation, bass populations have increased dramatically. The questions that will be voted on during the April 14 meeting have the potential to change this fisheree. Please try to attend the hearings on April 14.
Another public meeting that is important to deer hunters is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11. The meeting for Oneida and Vilas counties, or Deer Management Units 29B, 35, 36, 37 and 38, will be held in the meeting room at the Rhinelander Airport at 7 p.m. This meeting will provide an opportunity to get the most up-to-date deer unit information.
For the past several years I’ve heard an increasing number of complaints from area deer hunters. This is the opportunity to air those concerns to people who can do something about the season structure. At this time of the year it seems like we can attend meetings several nights each week.
Representative, Dan Meyer, from Eagle River, slipped a law into the budget bill that would create an early catch-and-release musky season plus alter the bass catch-and-release season. This action has touched off an explosion of emotions across the state. It will be fascinating to follow this situation.
| Tell us what you think... |
| Comments » |
The
comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News. |
|
| Post a comment
(150 word limit) » |
| We will not post reader comments containing
racial, religious or personal attacks, slander,
profanity, e-mail addresses, mailing addresses,
phone numbers or Web site addresses that are
for personal or promotional gain. |
|
|
| Thank you for your comments! Once your comments
are approved, they will appear on the site. |
|
|
|
Roger Sabota
| OPINION |
ALL OPINIONS > |
Football team appreciates support of the community
Parents, grandparents, uncles, families and friends, local businesses and Hodag football supporters: Due to your generosity our locker room pledge drive was a great success. Our goal was to raise $8,000 to $10,000 to purchase 40 lockers for our varsity locker room. We crushed this goal and raised enough money to purchase 100 lockers and the ability to have every male athlete in a new locker. These new lockers will allow us to secure our valuable equipment. In addition and I believe more important is that it shows our kids we care and will make the locker room less stressful. This facility has needed this improvement for three decades and you made it happen. Personally, I can not thank you enough for giving us the opportunity make this improvement for our students. READ MORE >
|
|
feed
Comments
